Toy and similar device



y 1933- c. w. HUTCHlNSON TOY AND SIMILAR DEVICE Filed March 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY y 1933- c. w. HUTCHINSON TOY AND SIMILAR DEVICE Filed March 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 3%, 1933 CHARLES W. E'UTCHINSON, OF ROCHELLE, NEVI YORK TOY AND SIMILAR DEVICE Application filed Marc1r22, 1932. ,Serial No. 600,426.

This invention relates generally to toys and similar devices and is more particularly directed to a miniature or toy derrick or hoist which, whil it falls within the category of 5 amusement appliances, is also of an instructive nature in that its assembly and operation tend to develop mechanical talents in the child user. V p

In prior toy derrick constructions, which generally are replicas in miniature of derricks or hoists used in building and other op-' erations, it has been the practice to operate the load-lifting cable by a crank-actuated drum, the movement of the boom perpendicularly and radially being accomplished by hand, either by grasping the boom its-elf or the mast which, in some instances, is rotatable in its base, or by drawing up on cords or cables which are connected to the boom and to the framework of the derrick to permit of the execution of the desired movements. Asa child seeks realism in the construction and mode of operation of his toys and similar devices, it is obvious that the present mode of actuating the boom in toy derricks and hoists falls far short of satisfying this demand.

The primary object of this inventionis to provide a m niature or toy derrick or hoist which will not only be a replica inv structure of larger devices of the kind, but will embody operating features that willenable the user to perform: the various functions and movements of derrick or hoist in a manner that will satisfythe demand for complete, mechanical control, to which exlstmg devices in the art, as heretofore pointed out, cannot respond.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a device of the aforesaid characteristics,

which while it meets all the attributes of a toy, also possesses features that place it in the class of instructive and educational appliances, in that it serves to develop mechanical talents, which must be brought intov action not only in the use of the appliance, but

in its erection or assembly prior thereto, with the resultant beneficial efiects to the young mind.

My invention further contemplates the pro-i vision of a miniature or toy derrick or hoist which may be economically produced and sold, the appliance being composed of coopcrating elements which may be readily assembled and disassembled, it being obvious that thisfeature facilitates shipment of the appliancewhen in a knocked-down or disas sembled condition, in addition to the instructive features. that flow from the assembly operations.

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will doubtless become manifest asthe description proceeds, and I would have it clearly understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the full range of equivalents, both in structure and in use,to which I may be entitled under my invention in its broadest aspect.

For the purposes of this disclosure, I have electedto illustrate and describe a preferred embodiment of my invention. However, this is merely illustrative as my invention may take other forms and various changes in the details of construction and the mode of operation of the essential elements may be effected within the scopeof the appended claims. p

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a miniature derrick orhoist embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevationof the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the boom support, as associated with the mast and ground base.

Figures 4. 5, and 6 are views in perspec tive, each illustrating the elements controlled by the actuation of one of the system of actuating levers, and Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of a modification of the baseforming members. 7 i

Referring now to the drawings in detail, in which like characters of reference are employed to designatesimilar parts in the several views, the derrick or hoist embodies the usual triangular ground frame composed of the members 7, 8, and 9, which may beof metal, wood or other appropriate material, the said members-7 and 8 being detachably connected to the base member 9 of the trinected to the mast at their upper ends, or

angle by pins, bolts or other suitable devices, as indicated at 10.

Adjacent their outer ends, the mating surfaces of frame members 7 and 8 are preferably recessed, for interlocking engagement, these members being retained in assembled relation in the formation of the apex of the triangle by the shoulder 11 of the mast 12 which is stepped in the registering apertures 7 and 8 therein. Of course, in lieu of the frame construction described, a one-piece or other type of supporting base may be utilized, the mastbeing removably connected thereto in any preferred manner, whereby the objects of the invention may be attained. At their ends contiguous to the base member 9,' ea'ch of the aforesaid side members 7 and 8 of the ground frame is preferably cut away as at 13 and 14 to provide seats for the reception of the lower ends of the diagonal brace members 15 and 16, which may be detachably connected to the cooperating frame members by pins or bolt-s, as shown at 17 and 18, said braces being similarly conthese ends may be joined together by any suitable meansin advance of the mast to form a crotch within which the latter is held against forward and lateral movement.

a The usual boom 19 having a sheave, pulley or block 20, adjacent its outer end is pivotally connected, as at 21, within the jaw of a bifurcated fitting or yoke 22 for arcuate movement in a perpendicular plane on the axis formed by said pivotal connection 21.

The aforesaid yoke or bifurcated'fitting 22 is superposed upon and fixed to a reel or drum 23, preferably of the flanged type, to form a unit which is rotatable in a horizontal" plane about "the vertical axis formed by the mast 12, it being obvious that the yoke or fitting and the reel are apertured or bored to receive the mast;

From the description thus far given, it

;'will be evident that, following'the assembly of the ground base or supportin frame, the mast is stepped with the boomssupporting elements in position thereon and the diagonal bracing engaged with the mast to maintain the same in a vertical position and at the same time support it for resisting forward and side loads to which it is subjected in the operation of the derrick or hoist.

As Wlll be observed, a plurality of levers,

24, 25, and 26, are fulerumed, as at 27 to the diagonal brace 16 for pivotal movement, in the actuation of the various control cords or cables which are essential to the funct1oning of the derrick, as hereinafter explained. 7

These levers may have a common pivot, the lever 24 being preferably located on one side of the diagonal brace 16. with the remaining levers of the system disposed on the other side thereof, or they maybe independ ently fulcrumed in the relationship described or otherwise, it being apparent, however, that the construction shown is economical and facilitates assembly while, at the same time, being entirely feasible in carrying the objects of the invention into effect.

The three levers are preferably of a length to extend across the gap between the diagonal braces 15 and 16 and beyond the brace 15, terminating in handle or griplike formations, as shown at 28, whereby their manipulation may be facilitated, the levers 25 and 26 being adapted to travel within parallel guide-ways formed by the members 29 and 30 supported from the brace 15 by the spacing blocks 31 or other suitable means. Obviously, the guides maybe formed of wood, with the spacers of a: similar or other material, or they may be composed of wire, sheet, or cast metal; also, while it is preferred that they form a part of the structure of the brace 15, it is apparent that theappropriate elements forthe formation of the guides may be provided for assembly and connection to said brace as a part of the derrick erection operation.

The lever 26 functions as the actuator for rotating the drum or reel upon its vertical axis, through the medium of the cable or cord 32, which is wound about the drum to be taken ofi from opposite sides thereof to be led through the eyelets 33 and 34, or other suitable devices, preferably carriedby the frame member 9, that portion which traverses the eye 34 being carried upwardly to reverse direction, the boom 19, of course,

having-a corresponding pivotal movement.

For raising or lowering the boom, by rotating it on its axis 21, the lever 25 is moved downwardly or upwardly, the outer end of the boom 19 being connected thereto as at 19 by a cord or cable 35 which travels through the eyes or guides 36 and 37on the mast 12, suitable stops such as pins or'notches 38 being associated with the lever guide way, as on the inner surface of the diagonal brace 15- with which the lever may be engaged to retain the boom in the position to which it has been adjusted by the actuation of said lever. Y

The load-lifting cable 43 which traverses the aforesaid sheave, block or pulley 20 ispreferably carried through a suitable guide, as the eyelet 19 on the boom and through similar guides 39 and 40 upon the mast 12 to be fixed to the lever 24: which is adapted to 3 be held in the position to which it has been moved or adjusted by engagement with the stop-forming notches 41 provided on the sur face of the diagonal brace 15, which is traversed by said lever in the actuation of the load-lifting cable. 7

As will be manifest, the load-lifting cable may be fastened to a hook, bucket or any The ground base or frame of the derrick or hoist may be made sufiiciently heavy, to counteract the tilting effect of the boom-supported load, or means may be provided for detachably fastening the frame or base to a table, as by a C-clamp or the like, or by devices which may be driven into the ground, Where the derrick or hoist is used out-ofdoors. Again, the weight of the frame may be increased by providing the frame member 9 with a channel or other suitable receptacle as at 42 within which sand or other pulverized material may be placed during the use of the device.

While I have described my invention more or less specifically, in connection with the embodiment shown, it is apparent that various means of inter-connecting the several components to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the structure may be utilized and that the location of the various guides for the cables may be changed to meet different operating conditions or other structural ar rangements, all of these changes and modifications coming within the spirit and scope of my invention, as hereinbefore pointed out.

I claim:

1. A toy derrick or hoist comprising a ground base, a mast, a plurality of diagonally disposed members for bracing said mast from said base, a boom connected to said mast for rotative movement on intersecting axes a load-lifting cable supported from said boom for movement relative thereto, a system of levers pivotally connected to one of said diagonal braces, said load-lifting cable being connected to one of said levers, flexible connections between the remaining levers and said boom, whereby rotative movement of said boom on the aforesaid intersecting axes may be effected and guide-ways associated with the other of said bracing members, within which said boom-rotating levers are movable.

2. A toy derrick or hoist comprising a triangular base, a mast stepped therein, a plurality of diagonally-disposed members for bracing said mast from said base to resist forward and lateral bending forces, a boom, a load-lifting cable supported therefrom, a

mounting for said boom rotatable on the longitudinal axis of said mast, said boom being pivotally connected to said mounting for movement in a perpendicular plane, a system of levers mounted upon one of said diagonal bracing members, said load-lifting cable being connected to one of said levers, flexible means of connection between another of said levers and said boom mounting whereby the actuation of said lever will effect the rotative movement of said boom on the axis of said mast and a flexible connection between the remaining lever and said boom, said last named lever being actuatable to produce an arcuate movement of said boom in a perpendicular plane.

3. A toy derrick or hoist comprising a triangular ground base composed of detachably associated sections, a mast cooperating with certain of said sections to maintain the same in assembled relationship, a plurality of diagonally disposed members detachably connected to said base and said mast, to brace the latter against forward and lateral bending forces, a boom, a mounting for said boom, embodying a cable-receiving surface, rotatable on the longitudinal axis of said shaft, said boom being pivotally connected to said mounting for arcuate movement in a perpendicular plane, a system of actuating levers, a load-lifting cable supported from said boom for relative movement and connected to one of said levers, a cable traversing said cablereceiving surface and connected to another of said levers, a flexible connection between the free end of the said boom and the remaining levers and a plurality of stops asso ciated with one of said bracing members with vhich certain of said levers are adapted to be engaged to retain them in pre-determined adjusted positions.

4. The combination with a derrick having a mast and diagonally disposed bracing members therefor, of means for controlling the operation of a load-lifting cable and the rotative movement of the boom through intersecting arcs in perpendicular and horizontal planes, said means comprising a plurality of levers pivotally connected toone of said bracing membeis, one of said levers functioning as an actuator for said load-lifting cable, the remaining levers being operable to control the rotative movement of the boom in the aforesaid intersecting planes, means for guiding the movement of said levers, associated with the other of said diagonal bracing members and devices normally independent of said levers for retaining the latter in predetermined positions of adjustment. 

